RodneyS

The IAD snow drought made it until Tom Brady's second retirement, and so February 1st is the new record for the latest day of any Dulles Airport winter season for the first measurable snow. I presume DCA also received measurable snow this morning-- BWI I'm not sure about. In any event, when the totals are announced, I will post an updated table -- not that it will change the relative standings, which show Little Village Wx with a comfortable lead.

DCA _ NYC _ BOS __ ORD _ ATL _ IAH ___ DEN _ PHX _ SEA 1.5 2.1 1.4 2.4 1.5 1.0 -1.6 -1.8 -1.6

At the beginning of this winter, January 27th marked the latest day of any Dulles Airport winter season (dating to 1962-63) for the first measurable snow -- on that day in 2009, IAD ended its 2008-09 snow drought by recording 2.0 inches. We shall see when (or should I say if ?) the IAD snow drought ends this winter. FYI, in both Baltimore and Washington, the latest first measurable snow of any winter season occurred during 1972-73, when BWI recorded its only measurable snow on February 21, 1973 (1.2 inches) and DCA did the same on February 23, 1973 (0.1 inch). In Richmond, the long-ago winter of 1918-19 resulted in a season-long snow drought -- only a trace fell (in December 1918 and January 1919).

The beat goes on. This year January 13th averaged 47.5 at DCA, while January 21st averaged 39.0. So, the comparison of the average temperature for the two days between the first 112 years of official daily temperature recordkeeping in DC and the last 40 years is as follows: Period Jan 13 Jan 21 Jan 21 minus Jan 13 1872-1983 33.34 36.77 +3.43 1984-2023 40.49 32.65 -7.84

It's uncanny how similar those two winters were. Of course, both are considered by NOAA to be neutral years, rather than La Nina years; see https://psl.noaa.gov/enso/past_events.html

Okay. FYI, an astonishing historical DC snow fact is this: In the winter of 1913-14, no measurable snow fell until February 13, 1914. Then a Valentine's Eve/Valentine's Day storm dropped 4.5 inches. That seemed to open the snow gates, as after that snow fell on an additional nine days through March 22, 1914, resulting in 28.6 inches for the season, of which a record 19.3 inches fell in March. Now fast forward to the winter of 1959-60. Believe it or not, once again no measurable snow fell in DC until February 13th, and once again a Valentine's Eve/Valentine's Day storm dropped significant snow -- this time, 6.2 inches. And once again, that seemed to open the snow gates, as after that snow fell on an additional seven days through March 16, 1960, resulting in 24.3 inches for the season, of which 17.1 inches fell in March -- the second most ever -- second only to March 1914.

At this point, both you and I are wishing that we had low-balled @Little Village Wx. However, snow lovers who are Washington Post subscribers can console themselves by consulting their archives and reading a January 20, 1987 article written by Mary Jordan titled "Snow Hopes Dashed" (p. B1). The article stated, among other things: " . . .(DC) residents were still waiting yesterday for the area's first measurable snowfall . . . Rain and temperatures above freezing were expected during the rest of the week, the National Weather Service said." Two days later, DCA recorded 10.8 inches of snow. Three days after that was Super Bowl Sunday, and an overnight storm dropped another 9.2 inches of snow. The Federal Government was closed on Monday, but Tuesday afternoon, January 27, 1987, produced perhaps the most epic traffic jam in DC history, as the 20 inches of snow on the ground and the temperature range of 9 to 30 at DCA proved too much for the (three?) DC snowplows to overcome during the PM rush hour. (I know because I was in that traffic jam.) When that snow was finally removed and things were back to normal, February 22-23 saw another two-day storm that dropped an additional 10.2 inches at DCA. Am I saying that the above scenario will repeat this year? . . . Of course not, only Jebman would say that.

The 60+ degree weather streak has ended, but it established a DC record for the first five days of the year for both average maximum and average mean temperatures. January 1-5, 2023 averaged a 65.0 maximum, breaking the January 1-5, 2000 record of 62.3; and a 55.6 mean, breaking the January 1-5, 1950 record of 54.5.

The 60+ degree weather streak at DCA to begin the New Year has reached a DC record five days. However, that streak will almost certainly end today, and so will not challenge the more general eight-day January 60+ degree streak that began on January 2, 1998.

Today at DCA marks four straight days with 60+ readings. As I noted yesterday, no calendar year in DC had ever previously begun with even three straight 60+ readings. However, in 1998, after New Year's Day peaked at only 35 at DCA, eight straight days (January 2-9) reached at least 60.

After our Christmas weekend freeze, January so far has been a thaw and then some: Today marked the third straight 60+ degree reading at DCA, which had never previously happened in DC weather history to begin the year.

DCA _ NYC _ BOS _ ORD _ ATL _ IAH _ DEN _ PHX _ SEA 2.6 3.5 3.5 3.7 1.6 2.7 -0.3 -0.7 0.3

Thank you, thank you very much.

I agree, and I think the main problem is that many people don't have the time to devote to a monthly contest. However, it's a lot of fun for those of us who are able to set aside the time each month.

DCA and IAD have each reached what appears to be their maximum temperatures of 22 degrees for today, which breaks the 1989 Christmas Eve record low maximum of 23 at DCA and ties the 1989 Christmas Eve record low maximum at IAD.

I just posted this on the Capital Weather Gang page: Yesterday's 43-degree temperature range at DCA (55 maximum, 12 minimum) was the widest in exactly 24 years and one day, and tied for the 13th widest in DC history. On December 22, 1998, the mercury plunged from a high of 67 to a low of 24. The widest range ever in DC was March 22, 1907 when the temperature rose from a morning low of 40 to an afternoon high of 90.

While today's DCA total of 1.88 inches is a long way from any of the above days, it is the wettest winter (astronomical or meteorological) day in exactly four years. December 15, 2018 established the record for this calendar day with 2.55 inches.

I will keep track of your forecast, and will award you honorary membership in the Mid-Atlantic Snow Forecast Contest Hall of Fame, if your entry would have won. In the meantime, mark your calendar for Friday, December 1, 2023, which will be the deadline for next year's contest.

For the 2022-23 snow season contest, we have 64 entrants, up from 59 in 2021-22. Assuming that none of last season's entrants changed their user names, 48 entrants this season are returnees and 16 are new. Note that 2021-22 winner IUsedToHateCold is looking for a big snow season, after correctly foreseeing a rather run-of-the-mill season in 2021-22. The average amount forecast for the four airports combined this season is 63.3 inches, with a median of 58.9 inches. Here is the list, in ascending order of combined forecast snow. If you see any errors, please advise.

Do you have a tiebreaker selection?

Final Call -- deadline is this evening at 11:59 PM EST. We have 60 so far, but 14 folks who participated last year have not yet entered.

DCA _ NYC _ BOS ___ ORD _ ATL _ IAH ____ DEN _ PHX _ SEA -1.1 -0.2 0.2 -1.3 -0.3 2.4 1.4 0.4 -2.8 DCA _ NYC _ BOS ___ ORD _ DTW _ BUF ___ DEN _ SEA _ BTV 7.4 33.0 50.0 44.0 48.0 93.0 46.0 7.0 98.0

Do you have a tie-breaker selection?

BWI: 8.7" DCA: 7.4" IAD: 12.9" RIC: 3.3" Tiebreaker: (SBY): 2.9" Note that this contest will lock this coming Thursday (December 1st) at 11:59 PM. If you have not yet submitted an entry or wish to edit your existing entry, now would be a good time. If you edit, either do so to your existing post and message me, or submit a new post. Thanks.

Thanks.